부산대학교 도서관

There is increasing recognition of the need for specialized services for persons with intellectual disabilities who have mental health and behavioural challenges (dual diagnosis). Using prepost and multiple baseline (across participants) designs, we evaluated a publicly-funded specialized community treatment home program for individuals with dual diagnosis and challenging behaviour, based on the first seven admissions. All participants were admitted with high intensity, but low frequency aggression, self-injury and property destruction, along with less serious challenging behaviours such as yelling and threatening. Target behaviours decreased for all participants while in the treatment home. All were discharged successfully to family homes, group homes or supported apartments. Available data indicated that target behaviours and several social validity measures (e.g., police calls, hospital admissions) maintained at low levels up to one year in the follow-up location. Quality of life ratings improved, and consumer satisfaction was high. The findings from this program evaluation suggest that specialized community treatment homes may be an effective supplemental treatment model for individuals with dual diagnosis when other community resources are unable to support challenging behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]